Police officer takes wrong turn, drives car up utility pole

A Miami police offer took a wrong turn and drove his car up a utility pole Tuesday morning.

By NBCMiami.com and msnbc news services

MIAMI -- A Miami Police officer wasn't injured, but his car may need a little work after he drove it up a utility pole in a single car accident Tuesday morning.

Miami Police said the officer was briefly distracted and ran over a wire on the pole, leaving his patrol car at a 45-degree angle. Rescue workers responded and helped the officer hop out of the car uninjured.

The incident is just the latest Keystone Kops-like episode for South Florida police.

Last week, an off-duty cop was discovered passed out and drunk in his patrol car, the Miami-Dade, Fla., police department told local media. Instead of being cuffed and booked, Fernando Villa, 32, was allowed to go home after signing a form promising he would appear in court, the Miami Herald reported.

In July, Miami Beach cop Derick Kuilan nearly killed two people after allegedly plowing into them on his police ATV while taking a woman for a boozy late-night joyride, according to the Miami Times. He was fired and is awaiting trial on reckless driving and DUI charges.